Playhouse

ABSTRACT

A playhouse has at least four panels and a plurality of panel connectors connecting the four panels to each other at angles. The panel connectors have a panel connector top edge. A corner retainer is fitted over the panel connector top edge. A first gable panel extends from one of the at least four panels. A second gable panel extends from another one of the at least four panels. A first roof panel is connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel. The first roof panel has a first roof panel top edge. A second roof panel is connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel. The second roof panel has a second roof panel top edge. A ridge connector connects the first roof panel top edge with the second roof panel top edge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of play houses.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Backyard playhouses promote outdoor activity and fun for children. A variety of different backyard playhouses have been made including using large cardboard boxes, building metal structures and thematically designed sheds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A playhouse has at least four panels and a plurality of panel connectors connecting the four panels to each other at angles. The panel connectors have a panel connector top edge. A corner retainer is fitted over the panel connector top edge. A first gable panel extends from one of the at least four panels. A second gable panel extends from another one of the at least four panels. A first roof panel is connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel. The first roof panel has a first roof panel top edge. A second roof panel is connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel. The second roof panel has a second roof panel top edge. A ridge connector connects the first roof panel top edge with the second roof panel top edge.

The gable panel further includes a gable vertical support extending upward and vertically from a gable horizontal support, and the gable panel further includes a first gable angled support and a second gable angled support. The first gable angled support and second gable angled support have a gable slot for retaining an edge of the first roof panel and for retaining an edge of the second roof panel. The corner retainer has a corner retainer top surface that is perpendicular to a corner retainer inside surface. The corner retainer further includes a corner retainer first slot that is perpendicular to a corner retainer second slot. The panel connector has a panel connector inside surface. The panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector first retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector first edge.

The panel connector has a panel connector inside surface. The panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector second retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector second edge. The ridge connector has a pair of ridge angled surfaces meeting at a ridge apex, wherein the ridge connector also has a pair of ridge connector slots that engage to the first roof panel top edge and the second roof panel top edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the playhouse.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the playhouse.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the playhouse panel system.

The following callout list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.

-   20 Panel -   21 Panel Surface -   22 Window -   24 Panel First Vertical Edge -   25 Panel Second Vertical Edge -   26 Panel Top Edge -   27 Panel Lower Edge -   30 Panel Connector -   31 Panel Connector Top Edge -   32 Panel Connector Outer Corner -   33 Panel Connector Bottom Edge -   34 Panel Connector First Retainer -   35 Panel Connector Second Retainer -   36 Panel Connector First Edge -   37 Panel Connector Second Edge -   40 Corner Retainer -   41 Corner Retainer Top Surface -   42 Corner Retainer Inside Surface -   43 Corner Retainer First Slot -   44 Corner Retainer Second Slot -   50 Gable Panel -   51 Gable First Angled Support -   52 Gable Second Angled Support -   53 Gable Horizontal Support -   54 Gable Vertical Support -   55 Gable Window -   56 First Roofing Panel -   57 Second Roofing Panel -   58 Gable Slot -   59 Roofing Panel Side Edge -   60 Ridge Connector -   61 Ridge Angled Surface -   62 Ridge Connector Slot -   63 Ridge Apex

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in the figures, the playhouse has panels 20 connecting to each other by panel connectors 30 to make a box frame. The frame is reinforced by corner retainers 40. The gable panels 50 fit over the box frame and roofing panels are attached to the gable panels 50. The roof panels are attached to each other by a ridge connector 60.

The panels 20 can be made of typical framing of playhouse members such as studs of 1″×1″ or 2″×4″ dimensions. The panels can also be made of plastic injection or rotomolded plastic panels that are hollow inside or filled with foam insulation inside. The panels are generally rectangular and planar in shape. The panels can form a rectangular structure making the four sides of a rectangular playhouse. Alternatively, the playhouse can be made into multiple rooms, or more complex shapes by adding more panels to define additional walls. The panels generally include a flat panel surface 21 upon which openings can be formed for windows 22. Additionally, the panels are rectangular in shape and have a panel first vertical edge 24, a panel second vertical edge 25, a panel top edge 26 and a panel lower edge 27.

Panel connectors 30 connect each of the panels 20 together. The panel connectors maintain the panels in a perpendicular relationship to each other. The panel connectors can be formed of extruded plastic or metal. The panel connectors 30 include a panel connector top edge 31, a panel retainer outer corner 32, and a panel connector bottom edge 33. The panel connectors have protrusions or other connecting means for connecting to the panels. The panel connectors fit and abut an outside surface of the panels with retainers extending through the panels from the panel connectors. More specifically, a panel connector first retainer 34 extends from a panel connector first edge 36. The panel connector first edge 36 fits into a panel second vertical edge 25 of a first panel. Additionally, the panel connector second retainer 35 extends from a panel connector second edge 37. The panel connector second retainer 35 engages a panel first vertical edge 24 of a second panel. The panel connector retainers extend along the height of the panel connector. For example a column of five or seven panel connector retainers may extend along the height of the panel connector. The panel connector retainers are preferably knob shaped and protruding from an inside surface of the panel connector 30. The panel connector retainers may have interference fit through an opening such as a panel connector retainer opening on the panel first vertical edge 24 or panel second vertical edge 25 of the panels 20.

Corner retainers 40 provide a securing hardware for retaining the panel connectors 30 to the panels 20. The corner retainers can be triangular such as in an isosceles triangular shape. The corner retainer 40 generally has a corner retainer top surface 41 with a corner retainer inside surface 42. The corner retainer outside surface conforms to the corner retainer outside surface. The corner retainer has a corner retainer first slot 43 and a corner retainer second slot 44. The corner retainer first slot 43 is preferably perpendicular to the corner retainer second slot 44. The corner retainer second slot 44 may communicate to the corner retainer first slot 43. The corner retainer also made as a square shape. The corner retainer can be made as a plastic member that fits over the corner connector 30 to retain a biased snug fit between the corner connector 30 and the panel 20.

The gable panel 50 fits over the wall of the playhouse and can connect to the corner retainer 40, the panel 20 or the panel connector 30. The gable panel 50 may have gable windows 55 that are framed between a pair of gable angled supports. The gable angled supports includes a first gable angled support 51 and a second gable angled support 52. The gable vertical support 54 connects between the apex of the gable panel 50 and the gable horizontal support 53. The gable may also have a gable slot 58 for retaining roof panels including a first roofing panel 56, and a second roofing panel 57. The roofing panel may similarly be made of plywood, a plastic injection molded panel, or a traditional metal rectangular sheet. The roofing panels have a roofing panel side edge 59 that can be inserted into the gable slot 58 and be retained within the gable slot 58 with or without connectors or adhesive. The gable slot 58 preferably retains the roofing panel side edge 59 by an interference fit where the roofing panel side edge 59 slides into the gable slot 58.

A ridge connector 60 connects the top edges of the roofing panels. The ridge connector has a ridge angled surface 61 that may match the profile of the roofing panels. The ridge connector also has a ridge connector slot 62 that retains the top edges of the roofing panels by connectors, or interference fit. The interference fit between the ridge connector and the roofing panels is preferred. The ridge has a ridge apex 63 that tapers to a ridge edge of the playhouse. 

1. A playhouse comprising: a. at least four panels; b. a plurality of panel connectors connecting the four panels to each other at angles, wherein the panel connectors have a panel connector top edge; c. a corner retainer fitted over the panel connector top edge; d. a first gable panel extending from one of the at least four panels; e. a second gable panel extending from another one of the at least four panels; f. a first roof panel connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel, wherein the first roof panel has a first roof panel top edge; g. a second roof panel connected to the first gable panel and the second gable panel, wherein the second roof panel has a second roof panel top edge; h. a ridge connector connecting the first roof panel top edge with the second roof panel top edge.
 2. The playhouse of claim 1, wherein the gable panel further includes a gable vertical support extending upward and vertically from a gable horizontal support, and wherein the gable panel further includes a first gable angled support and a second gable angled support, wherein the first gable angled support and second gable angled support have a gable slot for retaining an edge of the first roof panel and for retaining an edge of the second roof panel.
 3. The playhouse of claim 1, wherein the corner retainer has a corner retainer top surface that is perpendicular to a corner retainer inside surface, wherein the corner retainer further includes a corner retainer first slot that is perpendicular to a corner retainer second slot.
 4. The playhouse of claim 1, wherein the panel connector has a panel connector inside surface, wherein the panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector first retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector first edge.
 5. The playhouse of claim 4, wherein the panel connector has a panel connector inside surface, wherein the panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector second retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector second edge.
 6. The playhouse of claim 1, wherein the ridge connector has a pair of ridge angled surfaces meeting at a ridge apex, wherein the ridge connector also has a pair of ridge connector slots that engage to the first roof panel top edge and the second roof panel top edge.
 7. The playhouse of claim 6, wherein the gable panel further includes a gable vertical support extending upward and vertically from a gable horizontal support, and wherein the gable panel further includes a first gable angled support and a second gable angled support, wherein the first gable angled support and second gable angled support have a gable slot for retaining an edge of the first roof panel and for retaining an edge of the second roof panel.
 8. The playhouse of claim 6, wherein the corner retainer has a corner retainer top surface that is perpendicular to a corner retainer inside surface, wherein the corner retainer further includes a corner retainer first slot that is perpendicular to a corner retainer second slot.
 9. The playhouse of claim 6, wherein the panel connector has a panel connector inside surface, wherein the panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector first retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector first edge.
 10. The playhouse of claim 9, wherein the panel connector has a panel connector inside surface, wherein the panel connector inside surface has a column of panel connector second retainers extending from the panel connector inside surface at a panel connector second edge.
 11. The playhouse of claim 10, wherein the gable panel further includes a gable vertical support extending upward and vertically from a gable horizontal support, and wherein the gable panel further includes a first gable angled support and a second gable angled support, wherein the first gable angled support and second gable angled support have a gable slot for retaining an edge of the first roof panel and for retaining an edge of the second roof panel.
 12. The playhouse of claim 10, wherein the corner retainer has a corner retainer top surface that is perpendicular to a corner retainer inside surface, wherein the corner retainer further includes a corner retainer first slot that is perpendicular to a corner retainer second slot.
 13. The playhouse of claim 12, wherein the gable panel further includes a gable vertical support extending upward and vertically from a gable horizontal support, and wherein the gable panel further includes a first gable angled support and a second gable angled support, wherein the first gable angled support and second gable angled support have a gable slot for retaining an edge of the first roof panel and for retaining an edge of the second roof panel. 